Tunisians fall in Nairobi

Former Kenya seven-a-side captain Oscar Osir scored two tries as Kenya convincingly beat Tunisia 37-15 yesterday in an African Rugby Confederation Top Nine competition at the Rugby Football Union of East Africa ground.

The winger who now plies his trade in the United Kingdom for Newlyn and Penzance Pirates silenced critics who thought he was over the hill after being dropped from the Sevens team.

Coach Thomas Odundo called in Osir with barely two days before the match and he did not disappoint.

Osir crossed the line in the 72nd minute after a searing run by Ian Simiyu who quickly took a penalty inside his 25. He nearly covered the whole length of the pitch before unloading the ball to his former captain at club and national team level to score under the posts. Moses Kola, the national team and Impala captain converted.

The second try was a brilliant solo effort in which Osir weaved his way through the Tunisia backs to touch down under the posts for substitute Tito Oduk to convert.

Also crossing the line twice was Nondescripts winger Dan Weku. He led the resurgence after Kenya trailed 6-15 at half time.

Playing on the left wing, Weku took only one minute on resumption to score after a good run by Osir. 

The stocky winger who was later substituted was denied what appeared to be a clean try in the 42nd minute. Uganda referee Stephen Ojambo awarded the try but reversed the decision after consulting the touch judge Ramsey Olinga. 

This did not stop Weku from scoring at the same spot in the 43rd minute. 

It was Tunisia who started strongly. Fly-half Lofti Ben Msallem stroked over a penalty in the second minute which rattled the hosts. They then took charge, dictated turning over valuable possession and beating Kenya to the gain line.

The Kenya captain, Moses Kola levelled in the 14th minute with a penalty. 

For the best part of this half, Kenya only made sporadic raids on the North Africans’ territory. The Kenyan backrow was unable to handle Tunisian number eight Bleigh Houij Bouhlet and scrum-half Mohamed Ali Naouali. This was also helped by poor handling by Kenyan backs.

It was no surprise when Naouali who is a key member of the Tunisia Sevens team slipped over the line in the 24th minute after a big drive by the forwards. Six minutes later, a well-worked try by left winger Abbes Kherfani after France-based centre Pierrik Gaillard punched through silenced the big crowd at the RFUEA ground. Gaillard kept a cool head and converted for Tunisia to lead 15-3. 

Just before the break, Kola narrowed the gap 15-6 with another penalty. 

It was in the second half when Kenya exploded to score five tries. Pascal Wetukha who replaced John-Allan Namu made his presence felt scoring a try in the 65th minute.

Luck was also on Kenya’s side when Tunisia coach Mohamed Sahraoui made a tactical substitution taking off the whole of his front row. This meant all the scrum-downs could not be contested, explained Ojambo. 

With a weakened pack, Kenya sucked in the Tunisians and spread the ball wide to the backs who had enough room to run. When Tunisia substitute Mohamed Ali Kochlef was given a yellow card for stamping on Kenya hooker Frank Ndong’, the gaps opened.

Sahraoui admitted defeat saying it was a tall order after jetting in on Friday morning. "Kenya played as a team and showed some individual brilliance. They were very quick," he said. The former Tunisia fly-half who engineered the 54-5 defeat of Kenya in 1997 said he wished the two countries could play more friendly matches.

Thomas Odundo, the Kenya coach admitted Kenya started slowly in the first half. "It took sometime to get the rhythm going and our backs were a bit tense," he admitted. Michael Aung, the Nondescripts lock was named the most valuable player.

Kenya awaits Madagascar for the Rugby World Cup qualifier on July 11 in Nairobi before travelling to Uganda on June 23.

Match summary

Scorers: Moses Kola (penalty 14th minute), Dan Weku (try 41st and and 53rd minute), Moses Kola (conversion 44th minute), Pascal Wetukha (try 60th minute), Oscar Osir (try 72nd minute), Oscar Osir (try 79th minute), Tito Oduk (conversion 40th minute); Tunisia: Lofti Ben Msallem (drop goal, 2nd minute), Mohamed Ali Naouali (try, 24th minute), Abbes Kherfani (try 30th minute), Pierrik Gaillard (conversion 31st minute), Mohamed Ali Naouali (penalty 40th minute)

Line-up:Kenya: Joel Ng’ang’a (Frankline Amiani 67th), Frank Ndong (Edwin Alubaka 77th), Derrick Wamalwa, Edward Kinyany, Michael Aung, Enos Otieno (vice captain), Anthony Ogot, John-Allan Namu (Pascal Wetukha 40th), Moses Kola (captain, Jude Thumbi 77th), Peter Ocholla, Dan Weku (Tito Oduk 62nd), Paul Sadat, Ian Simiyu, Oscar Osir, Sean Omondi (Eric Situma 77th).

Tunisia: Wahid Karoui (Majdi Guirat 62nd), Seifeddine Hammami (Imed Fhal (65th), Mokhtar Guetari (Mohamed Ali Kochlef 65th), Mohamed Ben Hamida (Amor Hamdi Nezgar 75th), Slah Blagui, Haithem Chelli, Mohamed Yousri Sougir, Beligh Houij Bouhlel (Ahmed Garbej 73rd), Mohammed Ali Naouali, Lofti Ben Msallem, Abbes Kherfani, Pierrik Gaillard, Mohamed Zieid Halaili, Talel Cherif (Nasreddine Hammami 50th), Sabeur Ben Charrada.

Coach: Thomas Odundo

Assistant: Musembi Mumo

Team Manager: Wangila Simiyu.

Tunisia: Wahid Karoui (Majdi Guirat 62nd), Seifeddine Hammami (Imed Fhal (65th), Mokhtar Guetari (Mohamed Ali Kochlef 65th), Mohamed Ben Hamida (Amor Hamdi Nezgar 75th), Slah Blagui, Haithem Chelli, Mohamed Yousri Sougir, Beligh Houij Bouhlel (Ahmed Garbej 73rd), Mohammed Ali Naouali, Lofti Ben Msallem, Abbes Kherfani, Pierrik Gaillard, Mohamed Zieid Halaili, Talel Cherif (Nasreddine Hammami 50th), Sabeur Ben Charrada.

Coach: Mohamed Sahraoui.

Team manager: Nacem Chaouuachi.

Yellow Card: Mohammed Ali Kochlef (73rd).

Referee: Stephen Ojambo (Uganda)

TJ1: Ramsey Olinga (Uganda)

TJ2: Mike Muhame (Uganda)

Match Commissioner: Tinus Aucamp (Tanzania)